1
|
Bahri M, Farrahi H, Mahdavinataj H, Batouli SAH. Eight brain structures mediate the age-related alterations of the working memory: forward and backward digit span tasks. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1377342. [PMID: 39295767 PMCID: PMC11409254 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1377342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Working memory (WM) as one of the executive functions is an essential neurocognitive ability for daily life. Findings have suggested that aging is often associated with working memory and neural decline, but the brain structures and resting-state brain networks that mediate age-related differences in WM remain unclear. Methods A sample consisting of 252 healthy participants in the age range of 20 to 70years was used. Several cognitive tasks, including the n-back task and the forward and backward digit span tests were used. Also, resting-state functional imaging, as well as structural imaging using a 3T MRI scanner, were performed, resulting in 85 gray matter volumes and five resting-state networks, namely the anterior and posterior default mode, the right and left executive control, and the salience networks. Also, mediation analyses were used to investigate the role of gray matter volumes and resting-state networks in the relationship between age and WM. Results Behaviorally, aging was associated with decreased performance in the digit span task. Also, aging was associated with a decreased gray matter volume in 80 brain regions, and with a decreased activity in the anterior default mode network, executive control, and salience networks. Importantly, the path analysis showed that the GMV of the medial orbitofrontal, precentral, parieto-occipital, amygdala, middle occipital, posterior cingulate, and thalamus areas mediated the age-related differences in the forward digit span task, and the GMV of superior temporal gyrus mediated the age-related differences in the backward digit span task. Discussion This study identified the brain structures mediating the relationship between age and working memory, and we hope that our research provides an opportunity for early detection of individuals at risk of age-related memory decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Bahri
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Farrahi
- Kavosh Cognitive Behavior Sciences and Addiction Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Hami Mahdavinataj
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Amir Hossein Batouli
- Department of Neuroscience and Addiction Studies, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- BrainEE Research Group, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nance RM, Fohner AE, McClelland RL, Redline S, Nick Bryan R, Desiderio L, Habes M, Longstreth WT, Schwab RJ, Wiemken AS, Heckbert SR. The Association of Upper Airway Anatomy with Brain Structure: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Brain Imaging Behav 2024; 18:510-518. [PMID: 38194040 PMCID: PMC11222025 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-023-00843-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Sleep apnea, affecting an estimated 1 in 4 American adults, has been reported to be associated with both brain structural abnormality and impaired cognitive function. Obstructive sleep apnea is known to be affected by upper airway anatomy. To better understand the contribution of upper airway anatomy to pathways linking sleep apnea with impaired cognitive function, we investigated the association of upper airway anatomy with structural brain abnormalities. Based in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, a longitudinal cohort study of community-dwelling adults, a comprehensive sleep study and an MRI of the upper airway and brain were performed on 578 participants. Machine learning models were used to select from 74 upper airway measures those measures most associated with selected regional brain volumes and white matter hyperintensity volume. Linear regression assessed associations between the selected upper airway measures, sleep measures, and brain structure. Maxillary divergence was positively associated with hippocampus volume, and mandible length was negatively associated with total white and gray matter volume. Both coefficients were small (coefficients per standard deviation 0.063 mL, p = 0.04, and - 7.0 mL, p < 0.001 respectively), and not affected by adjustment for sleep study measures. Self-reported snoring >2 times per week was associated with larger hippocampus volume (coefficient 0.164 mL, p = 0.007), and higher percentage of time in the N3 sleep stage was associated with larger total white and gray matter volume (4.8 mL, p = 0.004). Despite associations of two upper airway anatomy measures with brain volume, the evidence did not suggest that these upper airway and brain structure associations were acting primarily through the pathway of sleep disturbance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robin M Nance
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- , 325 9th Ave, Box 359931, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA.
| | - Alison E Fohner
- Department of Epidemiology & Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Susan Redline
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R Nick Bryan
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Mohamad Habes
- Neuroimage Analytics Laboratory and Biggs Institute Neuroimaging Core, Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - W T Longstreth
- Departments of Neurology and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Richard J Schwab
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew S Wiemken
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
McKenzie AT, Marx GA, Koenigsberg D, Sawyer M, Iida MA, Walker JM, Richardson TE, Campanella G, Attems J, McKee AC, Stein TD, Fuchs TJ, White CL, Farrell K, Crary JF. Interpretable deep learning of myelin histopathology in age-related cognitive impairment. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:131. [PMID: 36127723 PMCID: PMC9490907 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01425-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive impairment is multifactorial, with numerous underlying and frequently co-morbid pathological correlates. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plays a major role in Alzheimer's type age-related cognitive impairment, in addition to other etiopathologies such as Aβ-independent hyperphosphorylated tau, cerebrovascular disease, and myelin damage, which also warrant further investigation. Classical methods, even in the setting of the gold standard of postmortem brain assessment, involve semi-quantitative ordinal staging systems that often correlate poorly with clinical outcomes, due to imperfect cognitive measurements and preconceived notions regarding the neuropathologic features that should be chosen for study. Improved approaches are needed to identify histopathological changes correlated with cognition in an unbiased way. We used a weakly supervised multiple instance learning algorithm on whole slide images of human brain autopsy tissue sections from a group of elderly donors to predict the presence or absence of cognitive impairment (n = 367 with cognitive impairment, n = 349 without). Attention analysis allowed us to pinpoint the underlying subregional architecture and cellular features that the models used for the prediction in both brain regions studied, the medial temporal lobe and frontal cortex. Despite noisy labels of cognition, our trained models were able to predict the presence of cognitive impairment with a modest accuracy that was significantly greater than chance. Attention-based interpretation studies of the features most associated with cognitive impairment in the top performing models suggest that they identified myelin pallor in the white matter. Our results demonstrate a scalable platform with interpretable deep learning to identify unexpected aspects of pathology in cognitive impairment that can be translated to the study of other neurobiological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T McKenzie
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gabriel A Marx
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Koenigsberg
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Sawyer
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan A Iida
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jamie M Walker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Timothy E Richardson
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Gabriele Campanella
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Johannes Attems
- Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
| | - Ann C McKee
- Department of Pathology, VA Medical Center &, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thor D Stein
- Department of Pathology, VA Medical Center &, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas J Fuchs
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles L White
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Icahn Building 9th Floor, L9-02C, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, USA.
| | - John F Crary
- Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Icahn Building 9th Floor, Room 20A, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
von Schnehen A, Hobeika L, Huvent-Grelle D, Samson S. Sensorimotor Synchronization in Healthy Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders. Front Psychol 2022; 13:838511. [PMID: 35369160 PMCID: PMC8970308 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.838511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor synchronization (SMS), the coordination of physical actions in time with a rhythmic sequence, is a skill that is necessary not only for keeping the beat when making music, but in a wide variety of interpersonal contexts. Being able to attend to temporal regularities in the environment is a prerequisite for event prediction, which lies at the heart of many cognitive and social operations. It is therefore of value to assess and potentially stimulate SMS abilities, particularly in aging and neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), to understand intra-individual communication in the later stages of life, and to devise effective music-based interventions. While a bulk of research exists about SMS and movement-based interventions in Parkinson's disease, a lot less is known about other types of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or frontotemporal dementia. In this review, we outline the brain and cognitive mechanisms involved in SMS with auditory stimuli, and how they might be subject to change in healthy and pathological aging. Globally, SMS with isochronous sounds is a relatively well-preserved skill in old adulthood and in patients with NCDs. At the same time, natural tapping speed decreases with age. Furthermore, especially when synchronizing to sequences at slow tempi, regularity and precision might be lower in older adults, and even more so in people with NCDs, presumably due to the fact that this process relies on attention and working memory resources that depend on the prefrontal cortex and parietal areas. Finally, we point out that the effect of the severity and etiology of NCDs on sensorimotor abilities is still unclear: More research is needed with moderate and severe NCD, comparing different etiologies, and using complex auditory signals, such as music.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andres von Schnehen
- Université de Lille, ULR 4072 - PSITEC - Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Lise Hobeika
- Université de Lille, ULR 4072 - PSITEC - Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France.,Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | | | - Séverine Samson
- Université de Lille, ULR 4072 - PSITEC - Psychologie: Interactions, Temps, Emotions, Cognition, Lille, France.,Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,Epilepsy Unit, AP-HP, GHU Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Afewerky HK, Li H, Zhang T, Li X, Mahaman YAR, Duan L, Qin P, Zheng J, Pei L, Lu Y. Sodium-calcium exchanger isoform-3 targeted Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal therapeutic intervention ameliorates cognition in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1537. [PMID: 35087161 PMCID: PMC8795410 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05568-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The third isoform of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX3) is crucial for a physiological fine-tuning of the Ca2+ fluxes in excitable tissues. In this view, the NCX3 accounts for the aberrant Ca2+ influx seen during neuronal excitotoxicity, such as in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about NCX3 regulation and functional properties. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (W. somnifera), a traditional indigenous plant widely recognized for having numerous medicinal values, was undertaken to determine its potential therapeutic benefit against aggregated Aβ1-42-induced NCX3 dysregulation and the thereof cognition impairment in 5xFAD mice. The undertaken sourced dried roots of authenticated W. somnifera physicochemical compositional tests satisfied standards of pharmacognostic quality, and further phytochemical analysis of the roots methanol extract revealed the roots constitute several antioxidants. Following an intra-gastric gavage administration of synthesized W. somnifera roots methanolic extract from postnatal day 30 (P30) to P75, in vivo cognitional studies and then neurochemical examinations of the NCX3 expression level, Aβ plaque deposition, and antioxidant activities in the AD-associated brain regions of 4-month-old 5xFAD mice suggests that the oxidative stress normalizing effects of W. somnifera constituents, operating on the NCX3, may have a therapeutic role in the improvement of cognition in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henok Kessete Afewerky
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- School of Allied Health Professions, Asmara College of Health Sciences, Asmara, Eritrea.
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Hao Li
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tongmei Zhang
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyan Li
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yacoubou Abdoul Razak Mahaman
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Limin Duan
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengwei Qin
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiequn Zheng
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Pei
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Youming Lu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Al-Anbari HSN, Ismail DK, Hasan MK, Aga QAAK, Shinu P, Nair AB. High Blood Lead Levels: An Increased Risk for Development of Brain Hyperintensities among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:2149-2157. [PMID: 32865724 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02359-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The current study was aimed to ascertain the effect of blood lead level on brain tissues in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 300 human participants ages 27 to 60 years with type 2 diabetes (n = 150) and healthy individuals (n = 150) were included in this study. The serum samples were used for measuring HbA1c and fasting blood glucose. Blood lead level was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Magnetic resonance imaging sub-analysis was used to assess the brain hyperintensities. Brain hyperintensities were found in 55% of patients with diabetes and 6% of non-diabetic control group subjects. The deep white matter hyperintensities were observed in 45% of diabetic patients, while the subcortical hyperintensities were noted in 10% of cases. Entorhinal cortex changes (31%) and hippocampus changes (42%) were noted in diabetic patients with brain hyperintensities. Diabetic patients with brain hyperintensities showed higher blood lead levels, HbA1c, and fasting blood sugar (p < 0.0001) as compared with healthy volunteers. A higher correlation (R2 = 0.8922) was found between deep white matter hyperintensities' size and blood lead levels. In nutshell, persistence of high blood lead level in diabetic patients may progress to brain hyperintensities which may consequently lead to cognitive, behavioral changes and Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dawser K Ismail
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Esraa University College, Baghdad, 10069, Iraq
| | - Mohammed Khudair Hasan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Esraa University College, Baghdad, 10069, Iraq
| | - Qutaiba Ahmed Al Khames Aga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Philadelphia University, P.O. Box 1, Amman, 19392, Jordan.
| | - Pottathil Shinu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anroop B Nair
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, 31982, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hou M, de Chastelaine M, Donley BE, Rugg MD. Specific and general relationships between cortical thickness and cognition in older adults: a longitudinal study. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 102:89-101. [PMID: 33765434 PMCID: PMC8110604 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies suggest that relationships between regional cortical thickness and domain-specific cognitive performance can be mediated by the relationship between global cortical thickness and domain-general cognition. Whether such findings extend to longitudinal cognitive change remains unclear. Here, we examined the relationships in healthy older adults between cognitive performance, longitudinal cognitive change over 3 years, and cortical thickness at baseline of the left and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and left and right hemispheres. Both right IFG and right hemisphere thickness predicted baseline general cognition and domain-specific cognitive performance. Right IFG thickness was also predictive of longitudinal memory change. However, right IFG thickness was uncorrelated with cognitive performance and memory change after controlling for the mean thickness of other ipsilateral cortical regions. In addition, most identified associations between cortical thickness and specific cognitive domains were nonsignificant after controlling for the variance shared with other cognitive domains. Thus, relationships between right IFG thickness, cognitive performance, and memory change appear to be largely accounted for by more generic relationships between cortical thickness and cognition. This article is part of the Virtual Special Issue titled "COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE OF HEALTHY AND PATHOLOGICAL AGING". The full issue can be found on ScienceDirect athttps://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/neurobiology-of-aging/special-issue/105379XPWJP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Hou
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Marianne de Chastelaine
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Brian E Donley
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA; School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Vallianatou T, Shariatgorji R, Nilsson A, Karlgren M, Hulme H, Fridjonsdottir E, Svenningsson P, Andrén PE. Integration of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Machine Learning Visualizes Region-Specific Age-Induced and Drug-Target Metabolic Perturbations in the Brain. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1811-1823. [PMID: 33939923 PMCID: PMC8291481 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
Detailed metabolic
imaging of specific brain regions in early aging
may expose pathophysiological mechanisms and indicate effective neuropharmacological
targets in the onset of cognitive decline. Comprehensive imaging of
brain aging and drug-target effects is restricted using conventional
methodology. We simultaneously visualized multiple metabolic alterations
induced by normal aging in specific regions of mouse brains by integrating
Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry imaging
and combined supervised and unsupervised machine learning models.
We examined the interplay between aging and the response to tacrine-induced
acetylcholinesterase inhibition, a well-characterized therapeutic
treatment against dementia. The dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) and the vitamin α-tocopherol were significantly
elevated by aging in different brain regions. l-Carnitine
and acetylcholine metabolism were found to be major pathways affected
by aging and tacrine administration in a brain region-specific manner,
indicating altered mitochondrial function and neurotransmission. The
highly interconnected hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex displayed
different age-induced alterations in lipids and acylcarnitines, reflecting
diverse region-specific metabolic effects. The subregional differences
observed in the hippocampal formation of several lipid metabolites
demonstrate the unique potential of the technique compared to standard
mass spectrometry approaches. An age-induced increase of endogenous
antioxidants, such as α-tocopherol, in the hippocampus was detected,
suggesting an augmentation of neuroprotective mechanisms in early
aging. Our comprehensive imaging approach visualized heterogeneous
age-induced metabolic perturbations in mitochondrial function, neurotransmission,
and lipid signaling, not always attenuated by acetylcholinesterase
inhibition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theodosia Vallianatou
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Reza Shariatgorji
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Spatial Mass Spectrometry, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Nilsson
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Spatial Mass Spectrometry, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Karlgren
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala Drug Optimization and Pharmaceutical Profiling (UDOPP), Biomedical Centre 580, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Heather Hulme
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elva Fridjonsdottir
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Section of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per E. Andrén
- Medical Mass Spectrometry Imaging, Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Spatial Mass Spectrometry, Biomedical Centre 591, Uppsala University, SE-75124 Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Brambilla M, Dinkelbach L, Bigler A, Williams J, Zokaei N, Cohen Kadosh R, Brem AK. The Effect of Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation on Cognitive Training Outcome in Healthy Aging. Front Neurol 2021; 12:625359. [PMID: 33767658 PMCID: PMC7985554 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.625359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective: Aging is associated with a decline in attentional and executive abilities, which are linked to physiological, structural, and functional brain changes. A variety of novel non-invasive brain stimulation methods have been probed in terms of their neuroenhancement efficacy in the last decade; one that holds significant promise is transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) that delivers an alternate current at random amplitude and frequency. The aim of this study was to investigate whether repeated sessions of tRNS applied as an add-on to cognitive training (CT) may induce long-term near and far transfer cognitive improvements. Methods: In this sham-controlled, randomized, double-blinded study forty-two older adults (age range 60-86 years) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups that received 20 min of 0.705 mA tRNS (N = 14), 1 mA tRNS (N = 14), or sham tRNS (N = 19) combined with 30 min of CT of executive functions (cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, working memory). tRNS was applied bilaterally over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices for five sessions. The primary outcome (non-verbal logical reasoning) and other cognitive functions (attention, memory, executive functions) were assessed before and after the intervention and at a 1-month follow-up. Results: Non-verbal logical reasoning, inhibitory control and reaction time improved significantly over time, but stimulation did not differentially affect this improvement. These changes occurred during CT, while no further improvement was observed during follow-up. Performance change in logical reasoning was significantly correlated with age in the group receiving 1 mA tRNS, indicating that older participants profited more from tRNS than younger participants. Performance change in non-verbal working memory was significantly correlated with age in the group receiving sham tRNS, indicating that in contrast to active tRNS, older participants in the sham group declined more than younger participants. Interpretation: CT induced cognitive improvements in all treatment groups, but tRNS did not modulate most of these cognitive improvements. However, the effect of tRNS depended on age in some cognitive functions. We discuss possible explanations leading to this result that can help to improve the design of future neuroenhancement studies in older populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Brambilla
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, “Luigi Sacco” Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lars Dinkelbach
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Annelien Bigler
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joseph Williams
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nahid Zokaei
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roi Cohen Kadosh
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anna-Katharine Brem
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurology, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division for Cognitive Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Köhncke Y, Düzel S, Sander MC, Lindenberger U, Kühn S, Brandmaier AM. Hippocampal and Parahippocampal Gray Matter Structural Integrity Assessed by Multimodal Imaging Is Associated with Episodic Memory in Old Age. Cereb Cortex 2020; 31:1464-1477. [PMID: 33150357 PMCID: PMC7869080 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintained structural integrity of hippocampal and cortical gray matter may explain why some older adults show rather preserved episodic memory. However, viable measurement models for estimating individual differences in gray matter structural integrity are lacking; instead, findings rely on fallible single indicators of integrity. Here, we introduce multitrait–multimethod methodology to capture individual differences in gray matter integrity, based on multimodal structural imaging in a large sample of 1522 healthy adults aged 60–88 years from the Berlin Aging Study II, including 333 participants who underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Structural integrity factors expressed the common variance of voxel-based morphometry, mean diffusivity, and magnetization transfer ratio for each of four regions of interest: hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, prefrontal cortex, and precuneus. Except for precuneus, the integrity factors correlated with episodic memory. Associations with hippocampal and parahippocampal integrity persisted after controlling for age, sex, and education. Our results support the proposition that episodic memory ability in old age benefits from maintained structural integrity of hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. Exploratory follow-up analyses on sex differences showed that this effect is restricted to men. Multimodal factors of structural brain integrity might help to improve our biological understanding of human memory aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ylva Köhncke
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Düzel
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Myriam C Sander
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Kühn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.,Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas M Brandmaier
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
d'Arbeloff T. Cardiovascular fitness and structural brain integrity: an update on current evidence. GeroScience 2020; 42:1285-1306. [PMID: 32767221 PMCID: PMC7525918 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-020-00244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An aging global population and accompanying increases in the prevalence of age-related disorders are leading to greater financial, social, and health burdens. Aging-related dementias are one such category of age-related disorders that are associated with progressive loss of physical and cognitive integrity. One proposed preventative measure against risk of aging-related dementia is improving cardiovascular fitness, which may help reverse or buffer age-related brain atrophy associated with worse aging-related outcomes and cognitive decline. However, research into the beneficial potential of cardiovascular fitness has suffered from extreme heterogeneity in study design methodology leading to a lack of cohesion in the field and undermining any potential causal evidence that may exist. In addition, cardiovascular fitness and exercise are often conflated, leading to a lack of clarity in results. Here, I review recent literature on cardiovascular fitness, brain structure, and aging with the following goals: (a) to disentangle and lay out recent findings specific to aging, cardiovascular fitness, and brain structure, and (b) to ascertain the extent to which causal evidence actually exists. I suggest that, while there is some preliminary evidence for a link between cardiovascular fitness and brain structure in older adults, more research is still needed before definitive causal conclusions can be drawn. I conclude with a discussion of existing gaps in the field and suggestions for how they may be addressed by future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracy d'Arbeloff
- Laboratory of NeuroGenetics, Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hou M, de Chastelaine M, Jayakumar M, Donley BE, Rugg MD. Recollection-related hippocampal fMRI effects predict longitudinal memory change in healthy older adults. Neuropsychologia 2020; 146:107537. [PMID: 32569610 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prior fMRI studies have reported relationships between memory-related activity in the hippocampus and in-scanner memory performance, but whether such activity is predictive of longitudinal memory change remains unclear. Here, we administered a neuropsychological test battery to a sample of cognitively healthy older adults on three occasions, the second and third sessions occurring one month and three years after the first session. Structural and functional MRI data were acquired between the first two sessions. The fMRI data were derived from an associative recognition procedure and allowed estimation of hippocampal effects associated with both successful associative encoding and successful associative recognition (recollection). Baseline memory performance and memory change were evaluated using memory component scores derived from a principal components analysis of the neuropsychological test scores. Across participants, right hippocampal encoding effects correlated significantly with baseline memory performance after controlling for chronological age. Additionally, both left and right hippocampal associative recognition effects correlated negatively with longitudinal memory decline after controlling for age, and the relationship with the left hippocampal effect remained after also controlling for left hippocampal volume. Thus, in cognitively healthy older adults, the magnitude of hippocampal recollection effects appears to be a robust predictor of future memory change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Hou
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA.
| | - Marianne de Chastelaine
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - Manasi Jayakumar
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - Brian E Donley
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA; School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Harasym D, Turco CV, Nicolini C, Toepp SL, Jenkins EM, Gibala MJ, Noseworthy MD, Nelson AJ. Fitness Level Influences White Matter Microstructure in Postmenopausal Women. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:129. [PMID: 32547386 PMCID: PMC7273967 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic exercise has both neuroprotective and neurorehabilitative benefits. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood and need to be investigated, especially in postmenopausal women, who are at increased risk of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. To advance our understanding of the potential neurological benefits of aerobic exercise in aging women, we examined anatomical and functional responses that may differentiate women of varying cardiorespiratory fitness using neuroimaging and neurophysiology. A total of 35 healthy postmenopausal women were recruited (59 ± 3 years) and cardiorespiratory fitness estimated (22–70 mL/kg/min). Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess -aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) receptor function in the primary motor cortex (M1), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to quantify GABA and Glu concentrations in M1. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess mean cortical thickness (MCT) of sensorimotor and frontal regions, while the microstructure of sensorimotor and other white matter tracts was evaluated through diffusion tensor imaging. Regression analysis revealed that higher fitness levels were associated with improved microstructure in pre-motor and sensory tracts, and the hippocampal cingulum. Fitness level was not associated with MCT, MRS, or neurophysiology measures. These data indicate that, in postmenopausal women, higher cardiorespiratory fitness is linked with preserved selective white matter microstructure, particularly in areas that influence sensorimotor control and memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Harasym
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Imaging Research Center, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Claudia V Turco
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chiara Nicolini
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen L Toepp
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - E Madison Jenkins
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Martin J Gibala
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Noseworthy
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Imaging Research Center, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Aimee J Nelson
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Prieto S, Valerio KE, Moody JN, Hayes SM, Hayes JP. Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Moderates the Association Between Medial Temporal Lobe Volume and Episodic Memory Performance Among Older Adults. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 76:591-600. [PMID: 32538837 PMCID: PMC7558431 DOI: 10.3233/jad-191312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A complex set of interactions between biological, genetic, and environmental factors likely underlies the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Identifying which of these factors is most associated with AD is important for early diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE We sought to examine genetic risk and structural brain volume on episodic memory in a sample of older adults ranging from cognitively normal to those diagnosed with AD. METHODS 686 adults (55-91 years old) completed a 3T MRI scan, baseline cognitive assessments, and biospecimen collection through the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Hierarchical linear regression analyses examined main and interaction effects of medial temporal lobe (MTL) volume and polygenic hazard score (PHS), indicating genetic risk for AD, on a validated episodic memory composite score. RESULTS Genetic risk moderated the relationship between MTL volume and memory, such that individuals with high PHS and lower hippocampal and entorhinal volume had lower memory composite scores [ΔF (1,677) = 4.057, p = 0.044, ΔR2 = 0.002]. Further analyses showed this effect was driven by the left hippocampus [ΔF(1,677) = 5.256, p = 0.022, ΔR2 = 0.003] and right entorhinal cortex [ΔF (1,677) = 6.078, p = 0.014, ΔR2 = 0.003]. CONCLUSIONS Among those with high genetic risk for AD, lower volume was associated with poorer memory. Results suggest that the interaction between AD genetic risk and MTL volume increases the likelihood for memory impairment among older adults. Results from this study suggest that genetic risk and brain volume should be considered key factors in tracking cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Prieto
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kate E. Valerio
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jena N. Moody
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Scott M. Hayes
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Chronic Brain Injury Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jasmeet P. Hayes
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Chronic Brain Injury Initiative, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhao L, Matloff W, Ning K, Kim H, Dinov ID, Toga AW. Age-Related Differences in Brain Morphology and the Modifiers in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. Cereb Cortex 2019; 29:4169-4193. [PMID: 30535294 PMCID: PMC6931275 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain structural morphology differs with age. This study examined age-differences in surface-based morphometric measures of cortical thickness, volume, and surface area in a well-defined sample of 8137 generally healthy UK Biobank participants aged 45-79 years. We illustrate that the complexity of age-related brain morphological differences may be related to the laminar organization and regional evolutionary history of the cortex, and age of about 60 is a break point for increasing negative associations between age and brain morphology in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-prone areas. We also report novel relationships of age-related cortical differences with individual factors of sex, cognitive functions of fluid intelligence, reaction time and prospective memory, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep disruption, genetic markers of apolipoprotein E, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, catechol-O-methyltransferase, and several genome-wide association study loci for AD and further reveal joint effects of cognitive functions, lifestyle behaviors, and education on age-related cortical differences. These findings provide one of the most extensive characterizations of age associations with major brain morphological measures and improve our understanding of normal structural brain aging and its potential modifiers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Zhao
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - William Matloff
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kaida Ning
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Hosung Kim
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Ivo D Dinov
- Statistics Online Computational Resource, HBBS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2003, USA
- Michigan Institute for Data Science, HBBS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1042, USA
| | - Arthur W Toga
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Svenningsson AL, Stomrud E, Insel PS, Mattsson N, Palmqvist S, Hansson O. β-amyloid pathology and hippocampal atrophy are independently associated with memory function in cognitively healthy elderly. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11180. [PMID: 31371787 PMCID: PMC6671981 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47638-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The independent effects of different brain pathologies on age-dependent cognitive decline are unclear. We examined this in 300 cognitively unimpaired elderly individuals from the BioFINDER study. Using cognition as outcome we studied the effects of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for amyloid-β (Aβ42/40), neuroinflammation (YKL-40), and neurodegeneration and tau pathology (T-tau and P-tau) as well as MRI measures of white-matter lesions, hippocampal volume (HV), and regional cortical thickness. We found that Aβ positivity and HV were independently associated with memory. Results differed depending on age, with memory being associated with HV (but not Aβ) in older participants (73.3–88.4 years), and with Aβ (but not HV) in relatively younger participants (65.2–73.2 years). This indicates that Aβ and atrophy are independent contributors to memory variability in cognitively healthy elderly and that Aβ mainly affects memory in younger elderly individuals. With advancing age, the effect of brain atrophy overshadows the effect of Aβ on memory function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Svenningsson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund/Malmö, Sweden. .,Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Erik Stomrud
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund/Malmö, Sweden.,Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Philip S Insel
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund/Malmö, Sweden
| | - Niklas Mattsson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund/Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Palmqvist
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund/Malmö, Sweden.,Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Oskar Hansson
- Clinical Memory Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund/Malmö, Sweden.,Memory Clinic, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jockwitz C, Mérillat S, Liem F, Oschwald J, Amunts K, Caspers S, Jäncke L. Generalizing age effects on brain structure and cognition: A two-study comparison approach. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:2305-2319. [PMID: 30666760 PMCID: PMC6590363 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal aging is accompanied by an interindividually variable decline in cognitive abilities and brain structure. This variability, in combination with methodical differences and differences in sample characteristics across studies, pose a major challenge for generalizability of results from different studies. Therefore, the current study aimed at cross-validating age-related differences in cognitive abilities and brain structure (measured using cortical thickness [CT]) in two large independent samples, each consisting of 228 healthy older adults aged between 65 and 85 years: the Longitudinal Healthy Aging Brain (LHAB) database (University of Zurich, Switzerland) and the 1000BRAINS (Research Centre Jülich, Germany). Participants from LHAB showed significantly higher education, physical well-being, and cognitive abilities (processing speed, concept shifting, reasoning, semantic verbal fluency, and vocabulary). In contrast, CT values were larger for participants of 1000BRAINS. Though, both samples showed highly similar age-related differences in both, cognitive abilities and CT. These effects were in accordance with functional aging theories, for example, posterior to anterior shift in aging as was shown for the default mode network. Thus, the current two-study approach provides evidence that independently on heterogeneous metrics of brain structure or cognition across studies, age-related effects on cognitive ability and brain structure can be generalized over different samples, assuming the same methodology is used.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Jockwitz
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Susan Mérillat
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franziskus Liem
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Oschwald
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN, Jülich-Aachen Research Alliance, Jülich, Germany.,C. & O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Svenja Caspers
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich, Germany.,JARA-BRAIN, Jülich-Aachen Research Alliance, Jülich, Germany.,Institute for Anatomy I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- University Research Priority Program Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Division of Neuropsychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
The Emerging Empirical Science of Wisdom: Definition, Measurement, Neurobiology, Longevity, and Interventions. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2019; 27:127-140. [PMID: 31082991 PMCID: PMC6519134 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to:• Assess the empirical literature on wisdom• Evaluate a proposed model of wisdom development ABSTRACT: This article seeks to provide an overview of the empirical literature on wisdom in terms of its definitions and measurements, possible neurobiological basis, and evolutionary value, as well as changes with aging and potential clinical interventions to enhance components of wisdom. Wisdom may be defined as a complex human trait with several specific components: social decision making, emotion regulation, prosocial behaviors, self-reflection, acceptance of uncertainty, decisiveness, and spirituality. These components appear to be localized primarily to the prefrontal cortex and limbic striatum. Emerging research suggests that wisdom is linked to better overall health, well-being, happiness, life satisfaction, and resilience. Wisdom likely increases with age, facilitating a possible evolutionary role of wise grandparents in promoting the fitness of the species. Despite the loss of their own fertility and physical health, older adults help enhance their children's well-being, health, longevity, and fertility-the "Grandma Hypothesis" of wisdom. We propose a model of wisdom development that incorporates genetic, environmental, and evolutionary aspects. Wisdom has important implications at both individual and societal levels, and warrants further research as a major contributor to human thriving. There is a need for a greater emphasis on promoting wisdom through our educational systems from elementary to professional schools.
Collapse
|
19
|
Park JM, Lee J, Kim Y, Won CW, Kim YJ. Calorie Intake and Cognitive Function in the Elderly: Data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). J Nutr Health Aging 2019; 23:930-936. [PMID: 31781721 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-019-1249-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the association between calorie intake and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. A cross-sectional analysis was performed on the first-year baseline data of 1559 adults aged 70-84 years using population data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. We included 543 participants who participated in nutritional surveys and accurately responded regarding their daily calorie intake. Daily ingestion was measured using the 24-hour dietary recall method, and neuropsychological tests evaluated cognitive characteristics. Logistic regression models were utilized to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment was 8%. Subjects with cognitive impairment mainly showed memory loss. After adjusting the confounding factors, participants who had less than the recommended intake were susceptible to cognitive impairment compared to those who that had the proposed intake (adjusted OR: 7.70, 95% CI: 1.01-58.45). We showed that lesser calorie intake than the recommended intake increases the ORs of cognitive impairment. We suggest that an adequate calorie intake protects against cognitive decline, and further studies are essential to investigate the influence of calorie intake reduction on the elderly before widespread application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J-M Park
- Chang Won Won, Elderly Frailty Research Center, Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea, ; Tel.: +82-2-958-8700; Fax.: +82-2-958-8699; Youn-Jung Kim, College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea, ; Tel.: +82-2-961-0311; Fax.: +82-2-961-9398
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bauer E, Sammer G, Toepper M. Performance Level and Cortical Atrophy Modulate the Neural Response to Increasing Working Memory Load in Younger and Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:265. [PMID: 30254582 PMCID: PMC6141635 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is evidence that the neural response to increasing working memory (WM) load is modulated by age and performance level. For a valid interpretation of these effects, however, it is important to understand, whether and how they are related to gray matter atrophy. In the current work, we therefore used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine the association between age, performance level, spatial WM load-related brain activation and gray matter volume in 18 younger high-performers (YHP), 17 younger low-performers (YLP), 17 older high-performers (OHP), and 18 older low-performers (OLP). In multiple sub regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), load-related activation followed a linear trend with increasing activation at increasing load in all experimental groups. Results did not reveal differences between the sub groups. Older adults additionally showed a pattern of increasing activation from low to medium load but stable or even decreasing activation from medium to high load in other sub regions of the PFC (quadratic trend). Quadratic trend related brain activation was higher in older than in younger adults and in OLP compared to OHP. In OLP, quadratic trend related brain activation was negatively correlated with both performance accuracy and prefrontal gray matter volume. The results suggest an efficient upregulation of multiple PFC areas as response to increasing WM load in younger and older adults. Older adults and particularly OLP additionally show dysfunctional response patterns (i.e., enhanced quadratic trend related brain activation compared to younger adults and OHP, respectively) in other PFC clusters being associated with gray matter atrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bauer
- Cognitive Neuroscience at the Centre for Psychiatry, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Gebhard Sammer
- Cognitive Neuroscience at the Centre for Psychiatry, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Department of Psychology, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.,Bender Institute of Neuroimaging, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Max Toepper
- Research Division, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany.,Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hu S, Ide JS, Chao HH, Castagna B, Fischer KA, Zhang S, Li CSR. Structural and functional cerebral bases of diminished inhibitory control during healthy aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:5085-5096. [PMID: 30113124 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory control or the ability to refrain from incorrect responses is a critical executive function known to diminish during aging. Imaging studies have elucidated cerebral changes that may underlie the age-related deficits. However, it remains unclear whether the structural and functional changes occur in the same brain regions and whether reduced gray matter volumes (GMV) mediate decreased activation during inhibition. Here, in a sample of 149 participants, we addressed the issues using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Individual's response inhibition was evaluated by the stop signal reaction time (SSRT) in a stop signal task. The results showed that age was associated with prolonged SSRT across participants. Many cortical and subcortical regions demonstrated age-related reduction in GMV and activation to response inhibition. Additionally, age-related diminution in inhibitory control, as indexed by the SSRT, was associated with both shared and distinct morphometric and functional changes. Voxel-based morphometry demonstrated age-related reduction in GMV in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and caudate head as well as bilateral insula, in association with prolonged SSRT. In a contrast of stop success versus go success trials, age was associated with lower activation in the medial and inferior frontal cortex and inferior parietal cortex. Further, reduction in GMV mediated age-related differences in activations only of the medial prefrontal cortex, providing limited evidence for structure function association. Thus, the decline in inhibitory control, as evidenced in the stop signal task, manifest with both shared and distinct structural and functional processes during aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sien Hu
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, New York
| | - Jaime S Ide
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Herta H Chao
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Brittney Castagna
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, New York
| | - Kimberly A Fischer
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, New York
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.,Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cacciaglia R, Molinuevo JL, Sánchez-Benavides G, Falcón C, Gramunt N, Brugulat-Serrat A, Grau O, Gispert JD. Episodic memory and executive functions in cognitively healthy individuals display distinct neuroanatomical correlates which are differentially modulated by aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2018; 39:4565-4579. [PMID: 29972619 PMCID: PMC6220988 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuroanatomical bases of episodic memory (EM) and executive functions (EFs) have been widely addressed in patients with brain damage and in individuals with neurologic disorders. These studies reported that larger brain structures support better outcomes in both cognitive domains, thereby supporting the “bigger is better” account. However, relatively few studies have explored the cerebral morphological properties underlying EM and EFs in cognitively healthy individuals and current findings indicate no unitary theoretical explanation for the structure–function relationship. Moreover, existing studies have typically restricted the analyses to a priori defined regions of interest. Here we conducted unbiased voxel‐wise analysis of the associations between regional gray as well as white matter volumes (GMv; WMv) and performance in both cognitive domains in a sample of 463 cognitively intact individuals. We found that efficiency in EM was predicted by lower GMv in brain areas belonging to the default‐mode network (DMN). By contrast, EFs performance was predicted by larger GMv in a distributed set of regions, which overlapped with the executive control network (ECN). Volume of white matter bundles supporting both cross‐cortical and interhemispheric connections was positively related to processing speed. Furthermore, aging modulated the relationship between regional volumes and cognitive performance in several areas including the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Our data extend the critical role of the DMN and ECN by showing that variability in their morphological properties, and not only their activation patterns, affects EM and EFs, respectively. Moreover, our finding that aging reverts these associations supports previously advanced theories of cognitive neurodevelopment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Cacciaglia
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Molinuevo
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carles Falcón
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nina Gramunt
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Brugulat-Serrat
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Grau
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Domingo Gispert
- Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Individual differences in regional cortical volumes across the life span are associated with regional optical measures of arterial elasticity. Neuroimage 2017; 162:199-213. [PMID: 28866349 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.08.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is often accompanied by changes in brain anatomy and cerebrovascular health. However, the specific relationship between declines in regional cortical volumes and loss of cerebral arterial elasticity is less clear, as only global or very localized estimates of cerebrovascular health have been available. Here we employed a novel tomographic optical method (pulse-DOT) to derive local estimates of cerebral arterial elasticity and compared regional volumetric estimates (obtained with FreeSurfer) with optical arterial elasticity estimates from the same regions in 47 healthy adults (aged 18-75). Between-subject analyses revealed a global correlation between cortical volume and cortical arterial elasticity, which was a significant mediator of the association between age and cortical volume. Crucially, a novel within-subject analysis highlighted the spatial association between regional variability in cortical volumes and arterial elasticity in the same regions. This association strengthened with age. Gains in the predictability of cortical volumes from arterial elasticity data were obtained by sharpening the resolution up to individual cortical regions. These results indicate that some of the variance of sub-clinical age-related brain atrophy is associated with differences in the status of cerebral arteries, and can help explain the unique patterns of brain atrophy found within each individual.
Collapse
|
24
|
Eich TS, Razlighi QR, Stern Y. Perceptual and memory inhibition deficits in clinically healthy older adults are associated with region-specific, doubly dissociable patterns of cortical thinning. Behav Neurosci 2017; 131:220-225. [PMID: 28333492 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Converging evidence suggests that the cognitive control processes that enable the inhibition of irrelevant information on a perceptual versus a memorial basis are qualitatively different and are underlain by unique neural systems that may be affected differentially in aging. In the current study, we investigated whether individual differences in performance on these 2 types of inhibitory processes were attributable to region-specific patterns of cortical thinning. Clinically healthy older adults completed a pair of behavioral memory and perceptual inhibition tasks and then underwent structural brain imaging. We found that worse memory inhibition was associated with reduced cortical thickness in the left ventral lateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), an area that has been functionally associated with memory inhibition, but not in either the right or left superior parietal lobule (SPL), areas that have been functionally associated with perceptual inhibition. On the contrary, while impaired perceptual inhibition was associated with cortical thinning in the right SPL, it was not associated with cortical thickness in either the left VLPFC or SPL. These results suggest a double dissociation between performance on 2 types of inhibitory control tasks and cortical thinning in specific brain areas, previously shown to be uniquely associated with functional activation of each these 2 types of cognitive tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teal S Eich
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University
| | | | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Zheng Z, Li R, Xiao F, He R, Zhang S, Li J. Sex Matters: Hippocampal Volume Predicts Individual Differences in Associative Memory in Cognitively Normal Older Women but Not Men. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:93. [PMID: 28321185 PMCID: PMC5337694 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus plays a prominent role in associative memory by supporting relational binding and recollection processes. Structural atrophy in the hippocampus is likely to induce associative memory deficits in older adults. Previous studies have primarily focused on average age-related differences in hippocampal structure and memory performance. To date, however, it remains unclear whether individual differences in hippocampal morphometry underlie differential associative memory performance, and whether there are sex differences in the structural correlates of associative memory in healthy older adults. Here, we used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine the extent to which gray matter volume (GMV) of the hippocampus predicts associative memory performance in cognitively normal older adults. Seventy-one participants completed a cued recall paired-associative learning test (PALT), which consists of novel associations and semantically related associations, and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We observed worse associative memory performance and larger variability for novel associations than for semantically related associations. The VBM results revealed that higher scores on associative memory for novel associations were related to greater hippocampal GMV across all older adults. When considering men and women separately, the correlation between hippocampal GMV and associative memory performance for novel associations reached significance only in older women. These findings suggest that hippocampal structural volumes may predict individual differences in novel associative memory in older women but not men.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Zheng
- Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Rui Li
- Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China; Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | | | - Rongqiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, China
| | | | - Juan Li
- Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China; Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Cognitive function is a major determinant of an individual's quality of life. However, the number of individuals developing a neurocognitive disorder (NCD) is increasing as the population ages: the number of individuals with dementia is doubling every 20 years and will reach over 115 million worldwide by 2050. There is a need to identify vulnerable individuals early, understand the trajectory of their NCD, and intervene with effective treatments. The DSM-5 outlines criteria to identify patients with mild NCD and distinguish them from patients with major NCD. Identifying patients early in the course of a dementing disorder can improve the opportunity to develop effective interventions to change the course of the NCD. Research is needed to identify biomarkers and risk factors that indicate an individual's potential for developing an NCD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William M McDonald
- Dr. McDonald is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA (e-mail: )
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Toepper M. Dissociating Normal Aging from Alzheimer's Disease: A View from Cognitive Neuroscience. J Alzheimers Dis 2017; 57:331-352. [PMID: 28269778 PMCID: PMC5366251 DOI: 10.3233/jad-161099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with changes in cognition, grey and white matter volume, white matter integrity, neural activation, functional connectivity, and neurotransmission. Obviously, all of these changes are more pronounced in AD and proceed faster providing the basis for an AD diagnosis. Since these differences are quantitative, however, it was hypothesized that AD might simply reflect an accelerated aging process. The present article highlights the different neurocognitive changes associated with normal aging and AD and shows that, next to quantitative differences, there are multiple qualitative differences as well. These differences comprise different neurocognitive dissociations as different cognitive deficit profiles, different weights of grey and white matter atrophy, and different gradients of structural decline. These qualitative differences clearly indicate that AD cannot be simply described as accelerated aging process but on the contrary represents a solid entity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max Toepper
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bethel, Research Division, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bielefeld (EvKB), Bielefeld, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bethel, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bielefeld (EvKB), Bielefeld, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Williams VJ, Hayes JP, Forman DE, Salat DH, Sperling RA, Verfaellie M, Hayes SM. Cardiorespiratory fitness is differentially associated with cortical thickness in young and older adults. Neuroimage 2016; 146:1084-1092. [PMID: 27989841 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with reductions in gray matter volume and cortical thickness. One factor that may play a role in mitigating age-associated brain decline is cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Although previous work has identified a positive association between CRF and gray matter volume, the relationship between CRF and cortical thickness, which serves as a more sensitive indicator of gray matter integrity, has yet to be assessed in healthy young and older adults. To address this gap in the literature, 32 young and 29 older adults completed treadmill-based progressive maximal exercise testing to assess CRF (peak VO2), and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine vertex-wise surface-based cortical thickness metrics. Results indicated a significant CRF by age group interaction such that Peak VO2 was associated with thicker cortex in older adults but with thinner cortex in young adults. Notably, the majority of regions demonstrating a positive association between peak VO2 and cortical thickness in older adults overlapped with brain regions showing significant age-related cortical thinning. Further, when older adults were categorized as high or low fit based on normative data, we observed a stepwise pattern whereby cortex was thickest in young adults, intermediate in high fit older adults and thinnest in low fit older adults. Overall, these results support the notion that CRF-related neuroplasticity may reduce although not eliminate age-related cortical atrophy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Williams
- Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jasmeet P Hayes
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel E Forman
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Geriatric Cardiology Section, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David H Salat
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, MGH Radiology, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Reisa A Sperling
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center of Alzheimer's Research and Treatment, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mieke Verfaellie
- Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott M Hayes
- Memory Disorders Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Szymkowicz SM, Persson J, Lin T, Fischer H, Ebner NC. Hippocampal Brain Volume Is Associated with Faster Facial Emotion Identification in Older Adults: Preliminary Results. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:203. [PMID: 27610082 PMCID: PMC4997967 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Quick correct identification of facial emotions is highly relevant for successful social interactions. Research suggests that older, compared to young, adults experience increased difficulty with face and emotion processing skills. While functional neuroimaging studies suggest age differences in neural processing of faces and emotions, evidence about age-associated structural brain changes and their involvement in face and emotion processing is scarce. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this study investigated the extent to which volumes of frontal and temporal brain structures were related to reaction time in accurate identification of facial emotions in 30 young and 30 older adults. Volumetric segmentation was performed using FreeSurfer and gray matter volumes from frontal and temporal regions were extracted. Analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) models with response time (RT) as the dependent variable and age group and regional volume, and their interaction, as independent variables were conducted, controlling for total intracranial volume (ICV). Results indicated that, in older adults, larger hippocampal volumes were associated with faster correct facial emotion identification. These preliminary observations suggest that greater volume in brain regions associated with face and emotion processing contributes to improved facial emotion identification performance in aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Szymkowicz
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jonas Persson
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institute Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Håkan Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA; Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Overdorp EJ, Kessels RPC, Claassen JA, Oosterman JM. The Combined Effect of Neuropsychological and Neuropathological Deficits on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults: a Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2016; 26:92-106. [PMID: 26732392 PMCID: PMC4762929 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-015-9312-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
To date, studies have consistently demonstrated associations between either neuropsychological deficits or neuroanatomical changes and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in aging. Only a limited number of studies have evaluated morphological brain changes and neuropsychological test performance concurrently in relation to IADL in this population. As a result, it remains largely unknown whether these factors independently predict functional outcome. The current systematic review intended to address this lack of information by reviewing the literature on older adults, incorporating studies that examined e.g., normal aging, but also stroke or dementia patients. A comprehensive search of databases (Pubmed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO) and reference lists was performed, focusing on papers in the English language that examined the combined effect of neuropsychological and neuroanatomical factors on IADL in samples of adults with an average age above 50. In total, 58 potential articles were identified; 20 were included in the review. The results show that especially neuropsychological variables (primarily memory and executive functions) independently predict IADL. Although some unique predictive value of brain morphological changes, such as hippocampal atrophy, was found, support for the importance of white matter changes was limited. However, the results of the studies reviewed are diverse, and appear to be at least partially determined by the variables included. For example, studies were less likely to find an independent effect of cognition if they solely employed a cognitive screening instrument. This indicates that a structured examination of neuroanatomical and neuropsychological correlates of IADL in different patient populations is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduard J Overdorp
- Department of Medical Psychology, Gelre Medical Centre, Zutphen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy P C Kessels
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Montessorilaan 3, 6500, HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Geriatric Medicine and Radboud Alzheimer Center, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jurgen A Claassen
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Montessorilaan 3, 6500, HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Geriatric Medicine and Radboud Alzheimer Center, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joukje M Oosterman
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Montessorilaan 3, 6500, HE, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Are Anxiety Disorders Associated with Accelerated Aging? A Focus on Neuroprogression. Neural Plast 2015; 2016:8457612. [PMID: 26881136 PMCID: PMC4736204 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8457612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders (AnxDs) are highly prevalent throughout the lifespan, with detrimental effects on daily-life functioning, somatic health, and quality of life. An emerging perspective suggested that AnxDs may be associated with accelerated aging. In this paper, we explored the association between AnxDs and hallmarks of accelerated aging, with a specific focus on neuroprogression. We reviewed animal and human findings that suggest an overlap between processes of impaired neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, structural, functional, molecular, and cellular modifications in AnxDs, and aging. Although this research is at an early stage, our review suggests a link between anxiety and accelerated aging across multiple processes involved in neuroprogression. Brain structural and functional changes that accompany normal aging were more pronounced in subjects with AnxDs than in coevals without AnxDs, including reduced grey matter density, white matter alterations, impaired functional connectivity of large-scale brain networks, and poorer cognitive performance. Similarly, molecular correlates of brain aging, including telomere shortening, Aβ accumulation, and immune-inflammatory and oxidative/nitrosative stress, were overrepresented in anxious subjects. No conclusions about causality or directionality between anxiety and accelerated aging can be drawn. Potential mechanisms of this association, limitations of the current research, and implications for treatments and future studies are discussed.
Collapse
|
32
|
Cuellar-Partida G, Lu Y, Kho PF, Hewitt AW, Wichmann HE, Yazar S, Stambolian D, Bailey-Wilson JE, Wojciechowski R, Wang JJ, Mitchell P, Mackey DA, MacGregor S. Assessing the Genetic Predisposition of Education on Myopia: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Genet Epidemiol 2015; 40:66-72. [PMID: 26497973 DOI: 10.1002/gepi.21936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Myopia is the largest cause of uncorrected visual impairments globally and its recent dramatic increase in the population has made it a major public health problem. In observational studies, educational attainment has been consistently reported to be correlated to myopia. Nonetheless, correlation does not imply causation. Observational studies do not tell us if education causes myopia or if instead there are confounding factors underlying the association. In this work, we use a two-step least squares instrumental-variable (IV) approach to estimate the causal effect of education on refractive error, specifically myopia. We used the results from the educational attainment GWAS from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium to define a polygenic risk score (PGRS) in three cohorts of late middle age and elderly Caucasian individuals (N = 5,649). In a meta-analysis of the three cohorts, using the PGRS as an IV, we estimated that each z-score increase in education (approximately 2 years of education) results in a reduction of 0.92 ± 0.29 diopters (P = 1.04 × 10(-3) ). Our estimate of the effect of education on myopia was higher (P = 0.01) than the observed estimate (0.25 ± 0.03 diopters reduction per education z-score [∼2 years] increase). This suggests that observational studies may actually underestimate the true effect. Our Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis provides new evidence for a causal role of educational attainment on refractive error.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Lu
- Statistical Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pik Fang Kho
- Department of Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- School of Medicine, Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - H-Erich Wichmann
- Helmholtz Centre Munich, Institute of Epidemiology I, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Technical University Munich, Germany
| | - Seyhan Yazar
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Dwight Stambolian
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Joan E Bailey-Wilson
- Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert Wojciechowski
- Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jie Jin Wang
- Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute of Medical Research and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Paul Mitchell
- Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute of Medical Research and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - David A Mackey
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Stuart MacGregor
- Statistical Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Boutet I, Taler V, Collin CA. On the particular vulnerability of face recognition to aging: a review of three hypotheses. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1139. [PMID: 26347670 PMCID: PMC4543816 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related face recognition deficits are characterized by high false alarms to unfamiliar faces, are not as pronounced for other complex stimuli, and are only partially related to general age-related impairments in cognition. This paper reviews some of the underlying processes likely to be implicated in theses deficits by focusing on areas where contradictions abound as a means to highlight avenues for future research. Research pertaining to the three following hypotheses is presented: (i) perceptual deterioration, (ii) encoding of configural information, and (iii) difficulties in recollecting contextual information. The evidence surveyed provides support for the idea that all three factors are likely to contribute, under certain conditions, to the deficits in face recognition seen in older adults. We discuss how these different factors might interact in the context of a generic framework of the different stages implicated in face recognition. Several suggestions for future investigations are outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Boutet
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Vanessa Taler
- School of Psychology, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON, Canada ; School of Psychology, Bruyère Research Institute , Ottawa ON, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Brehmer Y, Kalpouzos G, Wenger E, Lövdén M. Plasticity of brain and cognition in older adults. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2014; 78:790-802. [PMID: 25261907 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-014-0587-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aging is typically related to changes in brain and cognition, but the aging process is heterogeneous and differs between individuals. Recent research has started investigating the influence of cognitive and physical training on cognitive performance, functional brain activity, and brain structure in old age. The functional relevance of neural changes and the interactions among these changes following interventions is still a matter of debate. Here we selectively review research on structural and functional brain correlates of training-induced performance changes in healthy older adults and present exemplary longitudinal intervention studies sorted by the type of training applied (i.e., strategy-based training, process-specific training, and physical exercise). Although many training studies have been conducted recently, within each task domain, the number of studies that used comparable methods and techniques to assess behavioral and neural changes is limited. We suggest that future studies should include a multimodal approach to enhance the understanding of the relation between different levels of brain changes in aging and those changes that result from training. Investigating inter-individual differences in intervention-induced behavioral and neuronal changes would provide more information about who would benefit from a specific intervention and why. In addition, a more systematic examination of the time course of training-related structural and functional changes would improve the current level of knowledge about how learning is implemented in the brain and facilitate our understanding of contradictory results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Brehmer
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany,
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Elbejjani M, Fuhrer R, Abrahamowicz M, Mazoyer B, Crivello F, Tzourio C, Dufouil C. Hippocampal atrophy and subsequent depressive symptoms in older men and women: results from a 10-year prospective cohort. Am J Epidemiol 2014; 180:385-93. [PMID: 25086051 PMCID: PMC4128769 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have reported smaller hippocampal volume in patients with depression. However, the temporality of the association is undetermined. One hypothesis is that hippocampal atrophy might be a susceptibility factor for depression. In the present study, we assessed whether hippocampal atrophy was associated with subsequent depressive symptoms in a cohort of older French adults (n = 1,309) who were 65-80 years of age and enrolled into the study in 1999-2001 in Dijon, France. Subjects were followed for more than 10 years. Participants underwent 2 cerebral magnetic resonance imaging scans, one at baseline and one at the 4-year follow-up. We used linear mixed models to estimate the associations of hippocampal atrophy with 1) the average depressive symptom scores over follow-up (using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale) measured biennially over the subsequent 6 years and 2) changes in symptom scores over follow-up. In women, a 2-standard-deviation increase in annual hippocampal atrophy was associated with a 1.67-point (95% confidence interval: 0.59, 2.77) increase in the average depressive symptom score over follow-up and with a 1.97-point (95% confidence interval: 0.68, 3.24) increase in scores over the 2 subsequent years but not with later changes in symptoms. No association was detected in men. Accounting for potential selective attrition (using inverse probability weights) did not alter results. Hippocampal atrophy was associated with more subsequent depressive symptoms and with shorter-term worsening of symptoms in women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca Fuhrer
- Correspondence to Dr. Rebecca Fuhrer, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, 1020 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A2 (e-mail: )
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Karama S, Bastin ME, Murray C, Royle NA, Penke L, Muñoz Maniega S, Gow AJ, Corley J, Valdés Hernández M, Lewis JD, Rousseau MÉ, Lepage C, Fonov V, Collins DL, Booth T, Rioux P, Sherif T, Adalat R, Starr JM, Evans AC, Wardlaw JM, Deary IJ. Childhood cognitive ability accounts for associations between cognitive ability and brain cortical thickness in old age. Mol Psychiatry 2014; 19:555-9. [PMID: 23732878 PMCID: PMC3998074 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2013.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Revised: 03/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Associations between brain cortical tissue volume and cognitive function in old age are frequently interpreted as suggesting that preservation of cortical tissue is the foundation of successful cognitive aging. However, this association could also, in part, reflect a lifelong association between cognitive ability and cortical tissue. We analyzed data on 588 subjects from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 who had intelligence quotient (IQ) scores from the same cognitive test available at both 11 and 70 years of age as well as high-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging data obtained at approximately 73 years of age. Cortical thickness was estimated at 81 924 sampling points across the cortex for each subject using an automated pipeline. Multiple regression was used to assess associations between cortical thickness and the IQ measures at 11 and 70 years. Childhood IQ accounted for more than two-third of the association between IQ at 70 years and cortical thickness measured at age 73 years. This warns against ascribing a causal interpretation to the association between cognitive ability and cortical tissue in old age based on assumptions about, and exclusive reference to, the aging process and any associated disease. Without early-life measures of cognitive ability, it would have been tempting to conclude that preservation of cortical thickness in old age is a foundation for successful cognitive aging when, instead, it is a lifelong association. This being said, results should not be construed as meaning that all studies on aging require direct measures of childhood IQ, but as suggesting that proxy measures of prior cognitive function can be useful to take into consideration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Karama
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - M E Bastin
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence) Collaboration, Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C Murray
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - N A Royle
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence) Collaboration, Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - L Penke
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence) Collaboration, Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Muñoz Maniega
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence) Collaboration, Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - A J Gow
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J Corley
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - MdelC Valdés Hernández
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence) Collaboration, Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J D Lewis
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - M-É Rousseau
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - C Lepage
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - V Fonov
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - D L Collins
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - T Booth
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - P Rioux
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - T Sherif
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - R Adalat
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - J M Starr
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - A C Evans
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - J M Wardlaw
- Brain Research Imaging Centre, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- SINAPSE (Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence) Collaboration, Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - I J Deary
- Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Working memory load-dependent brain response predicts behavioral training gains in older adults. J Neurosci 2014; 34:1224-33. [PMID: 24453314 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2463-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the domain of working memory (WM), a sigmoid-shaped relationship between WM load and brain activation patterns has been demonstrated in younger adults. It has been suggested that age-related alterations of this pattern are associated with changes in neural efficiency and capacity. At the same time, WM training studies have shown that some older adults are able to increase their WM performance through training. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging during an n-back WM task at different WM load levels was applied to compare blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses between younger and older participants and to predict gains in WM performance after a subsequent 12-session WM training procedure in older adults. We show that increased neural efficiency and capacity, as reflected by more "youth-like" brain response patterns in regions of interest of the frontoparietal WM network, were associated with better behavioral training outcome beyond the effects of age, sex, education, gray matter volume, and baseline WM performance. Furthermore, at low difficulty levels, decreases in BOLD response were found after WM training. Results indicate that both neural efficiency (i.e., decreased activation at comparable performance levels) and capacity (i.e., increasing activation with increasing WM load) of a WM-related network predict plasticity of the WM system, whereas WM training may specifically increase neural efficiency in older adults.
Collapse
|
38
|
Yokoyama JS, Evans DS, Coppola G, Kramer JH, Tranah GJ, Yaffe K. Genetic modifiers of cognitive maintenance among older adults. Hum Brain Mapp 2014; 35:4556-65. [PMID: 24616004 PMCID: PMC4107001 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Identify genetic factors associated with cognitive maintenance in late life and assess their association with gray matter (GM) volume in brain networks affected in aging. Methods We conducted a genome‐wide association study of ∼2.4 M markers to identify modifiers of cognitive trajectories in Caucasian participants (N = 7,328) from two population‐based cohorts of non‐demented elderly. Standardized measures of global cognitive function (z‐scores) over 10 and 6 years were calculated among participants and mixed model regression was used to determine subject‐specific cognitive slopes. “Cognitive maintenance” was defined as a change in slope of ≥ 0 and was compared with all cognitive decliners (slope < 0). In an independent cohort of cognitively normal older Caucasians adults (N = 122), top association findings were then used to create genetic scores to assess whether carrying more cognitive maintenance alleles was associated with greater GM volume in specific brain networks using voxel‐based morphometry. Results The most significant association was on chromosome 11 (rs7109806, P = 7.8 × 10−8) near RIC3. RIC3 modulates activity of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which have been implicated in synaptic plasticity and beta‐amyloid binding. In the neuroimaging cohort, carrying more cognitive maintenance alleles was associated with greater volume in the right executive control network (RECN; PFWE = 0.01). Conclusions These findings suggest that there may be genetic loci that promote healthy cognitive aging and that they may do so by conferring robustness to GM in the RECN. Future work is required to validate top candidate genes such as RIC3 for involvement in cognitive maintenance. Hum Brain Mapp 35:4556–4565, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer S Yokoyama
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Jellinger KA, Attems J. Neuropathological approaches to cerebral aging and neuroplasticity. DIALOGUES IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE 2013. [PMID: 23576887 PMCID: PMC3622466 DOI: 10.31887/dcns.2013.15.1/kjellinger] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral aging is a complex and heterogenous process related to a large variety of molecular changes involving multiple neuronal networks, due to alterations of neurons (synapses, axons, dendrites, etc), particularly affecting strategically important regions, such as hippocampus and prefrontal areas. A substantial proportion of nondemented, cognitively unimpaired elderly subjects show at least mild to moderate, and rarely even severe, Alzheimer-related lesions, probably representing asymptomatic preclinical Alzheimer's disease, and/or mixed pathologies. While the substrate of resilience to cognitive decline in the presence of abundant pathologies has been unclear, recent research has strengthened the concept of cognitive or brain reserve, based on neuroplasticity or the ability of the brain to manage or counteract age-related changes or pathologies by reorganizing its structure, connections, and functions via complex molecular pathways and mechanisms that are becoming increasingly better understood. Part of neuroplasticity is adult neurogenesis in specific areas of the brain, in particular the hippocampal formation important for memory function, the decline of which is common even in “healthy” aging. To obtain further insights into the mechanisms of brain plasticity and adult neurogenesis, as the basis for prevention and potential therapeutic options, is a major challenge of modern neurosciences.
Collapse
|
40
|
Vuoksimaa E, Panizzon MS, Chen CH, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Fiecas MJA, Fischl B, Franz CE, Grant MD, Jak AJ, Lyons MJ, Neale MC, Thompson WK, Tsuang MT, Xian H, Dale AM, Kremen WS. Cognitive reserve moderates the association between hippocampal volume and episodic memory in middle age. Neuropsychologia 2013; 51:1124-31. [PMID: 23499725 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2013.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2012] [Revised: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive reserve is hypothesized to help people withstand greater brain pathology without manifesting clinical symptoms, and may be regarded as a preventive factor of dementia. It is unclear whether the effect of cognitive reserve is evident only among the older adults or after conversion to dementia, or if it can also be seen earlier in life before the prominent effects of cognitive aging become apparent. While finding a main effect of cognitive reserve on cognitive outcome may be consistent with the reserve hypothesis, in our view, it is unnecessary to invoke the idea of reserve if only a main effect is present. Rather, it is the interaction between a measure of reserve and a brain measure on cognitive outcome that is key for confirming that the effects of brain pathology affect people differently according to their cognitive reserve. We studied whether general cognitive ability at an average age of 20 years, as a direct measure of cognitive reserve, moderates the association between hippocampal volume and episodic memory performance in 494 middle-aged men ages 51 to 60. Whereas there was no statistically significant direct relationship between hippocampal volume and episodic memory performance in middle age, we found a statistically significant interaction such that there was a positive association between hippocampal volume and episodic memory only among people with lower general cognitive ability at age 20, i.e., lower levels of cognitive reserve. Our results provide support for the hypothesis that cognitive reserve moderates the relationship between brain structure and cognition in middle age, well before the onset of dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eero Vuoksimaa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Harrison TM, Weintraub S, Mesulam MM, Rogalski E. Superior memory and higher cortical volumes in unusually successful cognitive aging. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2012; 18:1081-5. [PMID: 23158231 PMCID: PMC3547607 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617712000847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
It is "normal" for old age to be associated with gradual decline in memory and brain mass. However, there are anecdotal reports of individuals who seem immune to age-related memory impairment, but these individuals have not been studied systematically. This study sought to establish that such cognitive SuperAgers exist and to determine if they were also resistant to age-related loss of cortical brain volume. SuperAgers were defined as individuals over age 80 with episodic memory performance at least as good as normative values for 50- to 65-year-olds. Cortical morphometry of the SuperAgers was compared to two cognitively normal cohorts: age-matched elderly and 50- to 65-year-olds. The SuperAgers' cerebral cortex was significantly thicker than their healthy age-matched peers and displayed no atrophy compared to the 50- to 65-year-old healthy group. Unexpectedly, a region of left anterior cingulate cortex was significantly thicker in the SuperAgers than in both elderly and middle-aged controls. Our findings identify cognitive and neuroanatomical features of a cohort that appears to resist average age-related changes of memory capacity and cortical volume. A better understanding of the underlying factors promoting this potential trajectory of unusually successful aging may provide insight for preventing age-related cognitive impairments or the more severe changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa M Harrison
- Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Steffener J, Brickman AM, Habeck CG, Salthouse TA, Stern Y. Cerebral blood flow and gray matter volume covariance patterns of cognition in aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2012; 34:3267-79. [PMID: 22806997 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Revised: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancing age results in altered cognitive and neuroimaging-derived markers of neural integrity. Whether cognitive changes are the result of variations in brain measures remains unclear and relating the two across the lifespan poses a unique set of problems. It must be determined whether statistical associations between cognitive and brain measures truly exist and are not epiphenomenal due solely to their shared relationships with age. The purpose of this study was to determine whether cerebral blood flow (CBF) and gray matter volume (GMV) measures make unique and better predictions of cognition than age alone. Multivariate analyses identified brain-wide covariance patterns from 35 healthy young and 23 healthy older adults using MRI-derived measures of CBF and GMV related to three cognitive composite scores (i.e., memory, fluid ability, and speed/attention). These brain-cognitive relationships were consistent across the age range, and not the result of epiphenomenal associations with age and each imaging modality provided its own unique information. The CBF and GMV patterns each accounted for unique aspects of cognition and accounted for nearly all the age-related variance in the cognitive composite scores. The findings suggest that measures derived from multiple imaging modalities explain larger amounts of variance in cognition providing a more complete understanding of the aging brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Steffener
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division of the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York; Department of Neurology, Columbia University of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
The availability of neuroimaging technology has spurred a marked increase in the human cognitive neuroscience literature, including the study of cognitive ageing. Although there is a growing consensus that the ageing brain retains considerable plasticity of function, currently measured primarily by means of functional MRI, it is less clear how age differences in brain activity relate to cognitive performance. The field is also hampered by the complexity of the ageing process itself and the large number of factors that are influenced by age. In this Review, current trends and unresolved issues in the cognitive neuroscience of ageing are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Grady
- The Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Nouchi R, Taki Y, Takeuchi H, Hashizume H, Nozawa T, Sekiguchi A, Nouchi H, Kawashima R. Beneficial effects of reading aloud and solving simple arithmetic calculations (learning therapy) on a wide range of cognitive functions in the healthy elderly: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2012; 13:32. [PMID: 22483196 PMCID: PMC3349518 DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-13-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2012] [Accepted: 04/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost all cognitive functions decline with age. Results of previous studies have shown that cognitive training related to everyday life (reading aloud and solving simple arithmetic calculations), namely learning therapy, can improve two cognitive function (executive functions and processing speed) in elderly people. However, it remains unclear whether learning therapy engenders improvement of various cognitive functions or not. We investigate the impact of learning therapy on various cognitive functions (executive functions, episodic memory, short-term memory, working memory, attention, reading ability, and processing speed) in healthy older adults. METHODS We use a single-blinded intervention with two parallel groups (a learning therapy group and a waiting list control group). Testers are blind to the study hypothesis and the group membership of participants. Through an advertisement in local newspaper, 64 healthy older adults are recruited. They will be assigned randomly to a learning therapy group or a waiting list control group. In the learning therapy group, participants are required to perform two cognitive tasks for 6 months: reading Japanese aloud and solving simple calculations. The waiting list group does not participate in the intervention. The primary outcome measure is the Stroop test score: a measure of executive function. Secondary outcome measures are assessments including the following: verbal fluency task, logical memory, first and second names, digit span forward, digit span backward, Japanese reading test, digit cancellation task, digit symbol coding, and symbol search. We assess these outcome measures before and after the intervention. DISCUSSION This report is the first study which investigates the beneficial effects of learning therapy on a wide range of cognitive functions of elderly people. Our study provides sufficient evidence of learning therapy effectiveness. Most cognitive functions, which are correlated strongly with daily life activities, decrease with age. These study results can elucidate effects of cognitive training on elderly people. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial was registered in The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (No. UMIN000006998).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Nouchi
- Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
- Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo 102-8472, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Taki
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hikaru Takeuchi
- Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hashizume
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nozawa
- Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sekiguchi
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Haruka Nouchi
- Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Ryuta Kawashima
- Smart Ageing International Research Centre, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
- Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Ageing leads to a functional deterioration of many brain systems, including the circadian clock--an internal time-keeping system that generates ∼24-hour rhythms in physiology and behaviour. Numerous clinical studies have established a direct correlation between abnormal circadian clock functions and the severity of neurodegenerative and sleep disorders. Latest data from experiments in model organisms, gene expression studies and clinical trials imply that dysfunctions of the circadian clock contribute to ageing and age-associated pathologies, thereby suggesting a functional link between the circadian clock and age-associated decline of brain functions. Potential molecular mechanisms underlying this link include the circadian control of physiological processes such as brain metabolism, reactive oxygen species homeostasis, hormone secretion, autophagy and stem cell proliferation.
Collapse
|
46
|
Eyler LT, Sherzai A, Kaup AR, Jeste DV. A review of functional brain imaging correlates of successful cognitive aging. Biol Psychiatry 2011; 70:115-22. [PMID: 21316037 PMCID: PMC3641853 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Revised: 12/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Preserved cognitive performance is a key feature of successful aging. Several theoretical models have been proposed to explain the putative underlying relationship between brain function and performance. We aimed to review imaging studies of the association between brain functional response and cognitive performance among healthy younger and older adults to understand the neural correlates of successful cognitive aging. MEDLINE-indexed articles published between January 1989 and December 2009 and bibliographies of these articles and related reviews were searched. Studies that measured brain function with functional magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography, evaluated cognitive performance, analyzed how cognitive performance related to brain response, and studied healthy older individuals were included. Eighty of 550 articles met these criteria. Seventy percent of the studies reported some brain regions in which greater activation related to better cognitive performance among older participants. This association was not universal, however, and was seen mainly in frontal cortex brain response and seemed to be more common among older compared with younger individuals. This review supports the notion of compensatory increases in brain activity in old age resulting in better cognitive performance, as suggested by hemispheric asymmetry reduction and posterior-anterior shift models of functional brain aging. However, a simple model of bigger structure → greater brain response → better cognitive performance might not be accurate. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa T Eyler
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|